Catalog N. : KE-05-14-119-EN-N

This report provides a comprehensive overview of how social protection systems in the EU are financed. It examines the sources and structures of this financing, along with how money is spent and resources allocated. Finally, the document addresses the question of the effectiveness and efficiency of the systems in place and also provides country overviews and relevant data. This publication is available online in English.

Catalog N. : KE-BG-14-001-EN-N

The report delivers on the core task of the Social Protection Committee (SPC) to monitor the social situation in the Member States and the European Union. It is prepared by the Secretariat of the Committee and its Indicators' Sub-group. The report provides an analysis of recent trends in the social situation in the Member States and the European Union and shows that there has been little improvement in the overall situation in the EU, although trends are more mixed than in preceding years. Continuing disparities occur across Member States and the situation is worsening in several. The report focuses on the results from the latest edition of the Social Protection Performance Monitor (SPPM), which is based on a set of key indicators for monitoring developments in the social situation.

Catalog N. : KE-06-14-028-EN-N

This report presents the annual review of the Social Protection Committee on the development of social protection policies, including social inclusion, pension, health and long-term care, in the European Union. Focusing on policy measures adopted in the period 2013-2014, the report aims at assessing the main directions of reform efforts in the field of social protection. It is based on social reporting done by the Member States in the context of the National Social Reports. A thematic section is dedicated to youth exclusion as one of the foremost challenges to a social Europe arising from the economic crisis.
This publication is available in electronic format in English.

Catalog N. : KE-04-14-665-EN-N

Money invested in a social enterprise should be used efficiently in delivering its social mission. Also, where public funding is used, efficient delivery of outcomes or savings in public spending must be demonstrated. A consistent way of measuring social impact is therefore needed. In October 2012, a Social Impact Measurement expert sub-group was set up by the GECES (“Groupe d’Experts de la Commission sur l’Entrepreneuriat Social”) in order to advise on a methodology which could be applied across the European social entrepreneurship sector. This helps social fund managers decide whether they will invest in a particular enterprise and will help investors and grant givers see if the enterprises they have backed have achieved their stated social objectives, but is also of wider application, both internally and externally. This publication sets out the proposed approaches to measurement used for assessment and follow-up.

Catalog N. : KE-04-14-928-EN-N

This report explores how those households that are particularly exposed to poverty and long-term unemployment manage to deal with the blows dealt by the economic crisis. It asks the key questions: is unemployment in a period of crisis really the cause of spiralling breaks in social links, or can it also be the start of a process of coping, based on strengthening those links? If so, to what extent? It draws on the findings of three studies, both qualitatively and quantitatively. This publication is available in printed and electronic format in English.

Catalog N. : KE-04-14-706-EN-C

This report examines to what extent innovative approaches to social protection against the risk of long-term care dependency - such as prevention, rehabilitation and support for the independent living of frail older people - can help EU Member States ensure that adequate provisions for long-term care needs can be organised in a sustainable way even at the height of population ageing. It argues that national policy makers should move from the present primarily reactive to an increasing-ly proactive policy approach seeking both to prevent the loss of autonomy and thus reduce care demand, and to boost efficient, cost-effective care provision.

Published by the Social Protection Committee (SPC), the report identifies promising innovative approaches around the EU and suggests how the the Union can support the efforts of Member States by facilitating the exchange of best practices, by researching and testing new solutions and fostering technical and social innovation.

Catalog N. : KE-BF-14-005-EN-N

The Galician Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare hosted on 25 March 2014 a Peer Review on the Galician Digital Volunteering Programme (VolDIX). The programme exploits various forms of voluntary participation to combat digital and social exclusion as part of a broader effort to build an Information Society for all. This report summarises the key issues discussed and the lessons learned. It is available in electronic format in English, French, German and Spanish.

Catalog N. : KE-BE-13-003-EN-C

This policy brief was produced by the OECD and the European Commission on entrepreneurship by people with disabilities. It presents data on the scale of self-employment and entrepreneurship activities undertaken by people with disabilities and discusses the barriers to entrepreneurship that are unique to people with disabilities. The policy brief also discusses policy approaches to support entrepreneurship for people with disabilities, including increasing awareness about the feasibility of entrepreneurship; developing entrepreneurship skills; supporting the development, acquisition and use of assistive technologies; ensuring access to appropriate financial support; and, improving Internet and IT accessibility. The brief provides examples of successful policy approaches used in the EU as well as inspiring stories about entrepreneurs with disabilities.

This policy brief is part of a series of documents produced by the OECD and the European Commission on inclusive entrepreneurship. The series includes policy briefs on youth entrepreneurship, senior entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, evaluation of inclusive entrepreneurship programmes, access to business start-up finance for inclusive entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship by the disabled as a well as a report on `The Missing Entrepreneurs’. All these documents are available in English, French and German. They are available at http://www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/inclusive-entrepreneurship.htm

Catalog N. : KE-BF-14-002-EN

The Belgian Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion EU 2020 is designed to feed into the Europe 2020 Strategy, which includes the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion as one of seven flagship initiatives. Since 2011 the Belgian Platform has brought together a wide variety of participants for quarterly meetings. Although the Platform has no real policy making authority, it provides an important forum for open dialogue and increasing awareness of the European framework for fighting social exclusion. This report summarises the key issues discussed and the lessons learned. It is available in electronic format in English, French, German and Dutch.

Catalog N. : KE-EW-13-002-EN-N

This paper reviews the current problems in obtaining timely information on social developments within
EU Member States, and reports on a stocktaking exercise of existing national approaches to providing
timely social data, as well as the possibilities that are being explored within the framework of the
European Statistical System (ESS) to improve the situation.
It is available online in English only.